Toyota Camry Overview

Since its total redesign four years ago, Camry has been Toyota's bread-and-butter car, the all-around midsize family machine that is the company's biggest seller by far. The Camry is meant to meet the needs of a wide range of buyers, from those seeking solid basic transportation to slightly more enthusiastic drivers to the luxury-minded, with a mix of sedans, coupes and station wagons in a variety of trim levels.

Camry faces some tough opponents. Virtually every major manufacturer wants a piece of this pie. Honda's Accord line is a perennial favorite; so are the Mazda 626 and Nissan Maxima. The Ford Taurus is slightly larger but still within comparison range, and so are the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus near-twins. And don't forget the Chevy Lumina. Plenty of choices, each with something to recommend it.

But Toyota didn't earn its reputation by avoiding competition. The Camry has been given the virtues it needs--subdued style, solidity and comfort among them--to face comparison with almost everyone's offerings and emerge with good marks.

One major Camry advantage is its sharing of major exterior, structural and mechanical components with the more expensive Lexus ES 300. In theory, a luxury car with a few amenities removed should be an impressive product, particularly when the differences between the two cars have nothing to do with engineering or quality. In this particular case, the common base is a credit to both cars.